Method, apparatus and system for determining effects and optimizing parameters of vagus nerve stimulation
First Claim
1. A method for determining the effects of vagus nerve stimulation, comprising:
- detecting electrical impulses applied to stimulate the vagus nerve of a patient; and
synchronizing operation of a functional magnetic resolution image (FMRI) scanner with the detected electrical impulses, wherein images produced by the fMRI scanner indicate effects of applying vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on the patient.
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Abstract
Effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on, for example, regions of the brain, are determined by synchronizing application of the VNS with functional magnetic resolution imaging (fMRI) scanning (FIG. 1). Parameters of the VNS application may be optimized using the fMRI images. Optimal dosage and protocols for the VNS application may be set based on the determined effects of VNS application on regional brain activity. Also, a blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) response of one or more brain regions to VNS application may be determined based on the fMRI images. VNS may also be used to treat neuropsychiatric diseases by mapping effects or VNS application on brain regions u) regional effects or the neuropsychiatric disease. The change in effects of VNS application on the patient with continued use may be assessed based on long-term and repeated studies of effects of VNS application.
82 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for determining the effects of vagus nerve stimulation, comprising:
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detecting electrical impulses applied to stimulate the vagus nerve of a patient; and
synchronizing operation of a functional magnetic resolution image (FMRI) scanner with the detected electrical impulses, wherein images produced by the fMRI scanner indicate effects of applying vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for determining the effects of vagus nerve stimulation, comprising:
- means for detecting electrical impulses applied to stimulate the vagus nerve of a patient; and
means for synchronizing operation of a functional magnetic resolution image (fMRl) scanner with the detected electrical impulses, wherein images produced by the fMRI scanner indicate effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on the patient. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- means for detecting electrical impulses applied to stimulate the vagus nerve of a patient; and
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23. A system for determining the effects of vagus nerve stimulation, comprising:
- a generator for generating electrical impulses and applying the impulses to stimulate the vagus nerve of a patient;
a functional magnetic resolution image (FMRI) scanner for producing a magnetic image of the patient; and
a processor for synchronizing operation of the fMRI scanner with the detected electrical impulses such that images produced by the fMRI scanner indicate effects of application of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on the patient. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
- a generator for generating electrical impulses and applying the impulses to stimulate the vagus nerve of a patient;
Specification